Senator David Hinkins is the state senator representing Emery, Carbon, San Juan, Grand and parts of Utah County. He was recently honored by SITLA with the Friends of the Trust Award.
The award was presented at an Emery High assembly where the students were given information on school trustlands and how the trust functions.
David Ure is the SITLA director. SITLA manages 4.5 million acres of surface area as well as mineral rights beneath the ground.
Emery School District superintendent Larry Davis welcomed David Ure to the stage. Ure spent 14 years in the legislature from Summit County. He has been a county commissioner and is a fourth generation farmer. His wife is a teacher.
Ure introduced the people he brought along for the recognition this day. He said SITLA has great employees who care about Utah’s school children and the management of the trust.
Ure encouraged the Emery High students to aim high and perform at a higher level. Each school in the state receives a portion of the interest off of the trustlands permanent fund. Each school has a community council that can choose how to spend these funds. He encouraged the students to become more involved in this process by letting administrators know what the students view of the needs of the school are.
“Discipline yourself to raise yourself to a higher level. I have four children and eight grandchildren. I love to see them accelerate. I hope you use this opportunity you have in this school.”
Paula Plant, a long time advocate of the school children of Utah said she works for the State Board of Education and it’s their job to oversee the distributions of the trustland monies. The interest on the fund is what’s distributed to the schools. $2.37 billion is distributed annually. At Emery High she said funds were recently used to upgrade the welding program. The machine class purchased an alignment machine. Money has been spent on technology at the school. With the addition of the freshmen class this year, funds were used to advance technology for these students. Funds also went into the successful homework class program. “That’s why trustlands matter to you,” said Plant.
Ure thanked Sen. Hinkins for his work in behalf of SITLA. Sen. Hinkins helped with the hunter access program which increased funds for SITLA while allowing continued use of SITLA lands for hunting and fishing. “Sen. Hinkins is a true statesman. He spoke on behalf of the trustlands and the other senators listened. In the legislature there are 29 senators. Rural Utah always takes the shaft. Two-thirds of Utah’s population reside in four counties. It’s hard to find someone to stand up for rural Utah, but Sen. Hinkins always does. He goes to battle on your behalf. Everyone listens to Sen. Hinkins. He does a great job. His district runs from Wasatch to San Juan County, he puts in countless hours on the road. You should be proud he is representing you. The Wasatch Front does not understand rural Utah. Sen. Hinkins cut budgets of other organizations so SITLA could have the million dollars for hunter access. Emery High has produced some good men. He does what he says he will do. He has the respect of everyone. His word is his bond. In the year’s I have known Sen. Hinkins, he has always kept his word, character and his honor. There are people who don’t agree with him, but they always respect him,” said Ure.
Ure then presented Sen. Hinkins with a large picture of Utah with the state school sections marked on the map. Sen Hinkins said, “It is an honor to receive this award. I appreciate what SITLA does and the effort they put in. The sportsmen appreciate the hunter access. Thank you very much, it is an honor to serve Utah.”
SITLA manages Utah’s school trust lands and deposits revenues from energy, mineral, real estate, and surface development into the Permanent School Fund, which has grown to $2.37 billion. Interest income from this endowment, called School land Trust Funds, is distributed annually to individual K-12 schools.
Emery County School District received $334,356 in School land Trust Funds this school year, its share of the $64.25 million distributed statewide. Schools receive a sum based largely on a per-pupil formula.
Book Cliff Elementary School: $13,785; Canyon View middle school: $36,146
Castle Dale Elementary School: $26,804
Cleveland Elementary School: $21,136
Cottonwood Elementary School: $21,290
Emery High School: $90,520; Ferron Elementary School: $31,552
Green River High School: $14,091
Huntington Elementary School: $39,669
San Rafael middle school: $39,363
The School Children’s Trust and SITLA created the Friend of the Trust Award to recognize those who have contributed significantly to the public school trust. Previous recipients include the late State Senator Dennis Stowell, Margaret Bird, Utah PTA, and Representative Mike Noel, and former Representatives Mel Brown and James Gowans.
Sen. Hinkins receives award from SITLA
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